Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines



Feb. 5', 1935. A. c. NIEMAN APPARATUS FOR INSERTING VALVES IN PIPE LINES Filed Dec. '7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l :ZZTIJ INVENTQR Ame/s0 C MEMA/V! ATTORNEYS A. C. NIEMAN Feb. 5, E935.

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING VALVES IN PIPE LINES Filed Dec. '7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ALFeED CMEM/i/V.

atwm ATTORN EYS Fh-S, E935. A. c. NIEMAN APPARATUS FOR INSERTING VALVES IN PIPE LINES Filed Dec. '7, 1933 4 Sheets-$heet 3- I N VEN TOR ALF-e50 cMEM/l/V.

BY? 2 a A'ITORNEYJ N WW4 INVENTOR A. C. NIEMAN Filed Dec. '7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ALF/9E0 CMEM/ /V. BY/

ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR INSERTING VALVES IN PIPE LINES Feb. 5, m5.

Patented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR INSERTING VALVES IN PIPE LINES Alfred C. Nieman, Newark, N. J.

Application December 7, 1933, Serial No. 701,288

11 Claims. (01. 77-41) My present invention relates to a method and Other objects of the invention are to provide apparatus whereby valves, particularly double valve flanges and packing for the pipe line, parflanged valves of any type or size may be inserted ticularly advantageous for inserting and scaling in a pipe line while the latter is in use, or while the valve in the pipe line.

it contains fluid, either liquid or gaseous, under Other objects and features of the invention will 5 pressure. appear from the following description. Various The apparatus is of a type in which the pipe features of the invention being illustrated in the line is cut to remove a short section thereof and accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a the valve inserted and fitted in place of the secpipe having mounted thereon a double cutter pipe tion While the pipe is enclosed about the cut to and flanges to be used in connecting a double 10 prevent escape or loss of any of the fluid in the flanged valve; Fig. 2 is a side view of an apparatus pipe. embodying a preferred form of the invention;

Heretofore, when a valve was to be inserted in Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line a pipe line filled with fluid or gas, a housing or 33 of Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 are a detail sectional chamber was fitted about the pipe at the place view of a pipe and valve flange and connecting 15 where the valve was to be inserted, a pipe cutter mechanism; Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the aphaving been inserted about the pipe so as to be paratus taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. '7 is a enclosed in the housing and being connected side View of the pipe line with the valve inserted through the housing so that it could be rotated in position therein; Fig. 8 is a radial sectional view and operated. of a portion of a pipe and mechanism showing a 20 When a short length or section of pipe had been modified form of means for setting the attaching cut by the pipe cutter, the latter was lifted into clamps for larger size pipe, and Fig. 9 is a part an extension of the housing, which extension was sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8. thereafter cut or sealed from communication with In my invention a pair of split or sectional the part of the housing encircling the pipe; the rings or flanges are slidably mounted in spaced 25 pipe cutter was removed from the extension, rerelation of a valve on opposite sides of a pipe placed by a valve and after the extension was cutter positioned to cut the section from the pipe again replaced and placed into communication suflicient to permit the insertion of the valve. A with the main part of the housing; this valve was sectional chamber is mounted on the pipe about lowered into alignment with the pipe and conand enclosing the cutter and the slidable rings 30 nected and sealed therein by means of a slidable or flanges. This chamber has an extension into collar, previously mounted on the pipe at one side and through which there extends a stem for opof the cutter. crating the pipe cutter. When the section of This method and apparatus for inserting the pipe has been cut, it, together with the pipe cutvalves was not adaptable for inserting double ter, is lifted into this extension of the chamber 35 flanged valves and it was limited to inserting the or housing. valve into alignment with the pipe by lowering it Another extension of the chamber contains a through its stem which limited the position of the double flanged valve positioned and guided so valve to one in which the valve stem was vertical. that it may be moved through the medium of a The lowering of the valve into exact alignment slidable rod into the space out from the pipe by 40 with the pipe was also difiicult. the pipe cutter. The valve is then in position Objects of my invention are to provide a method between the two movable rings or flanges and and an apparatus that will permit a pipe to be the latter are pushed, sliding on the pipe, into out while in use or filled with fluid and a double cont-act with the flanges of the valve. The slidflanged valve to be inserted and connected in the able rings have gasket recesses containing ring- 45 pipe or pipe line; to provide apparatus whereby shaped gaskets which seal against the flanges a valve may be inserted in a pipe line while the of the valve and against the surface of the pipe latter is in use or filled with fluid, with the valve when these rings or flanges are clamped in poor valve stem arranged in any desired position or sition thereby sealing the pipe at opposite sides direction; to provide an apparatus for cutting a of the valve, thereupon the housing may be 50 pipe line and inserting a valve therein in which opened, the valve connected in place by bolts the pipe line is entirely enclosed about the section and the housing entirely removed. to be replaced by the valve and in which the pipe Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the is cut and the valve inserted without opening the drawings, a pipe cutter 10 is mounted on a pipe enclosure. or pipe line 11 and is provided with sets of cut- 55 ters 12 and 13 positioned to cut the pipe at a spaced interval corresponding to the position to be occupied by the valve. These cutters are rotatable by a differential gearing 14, of any suitable construction, which is rotatable by a shaft 15. The pipe cutter may be of any usual type or construction and is in two parts so that it may be assembled about the pipe.

Mounted on opposite sides of the pipe cutter are sectional rings'or slidable flanges 16 and 17. These rings or flanges are also split or sectional so that they may be assembled about the pipe; 11 and joined by suitable bolts 18 and 19 respectively. Each of said slidable rings or gaskets- 16 and 17 is provided with an inclined recess'20,

as shown more particularly in Figsdand 5; in-

which a packing ring 21 of rubber, metal, composition or other suitable material is fitted.

When the pipe cutter 14 and the. flanges :16

and 17 have been mounted on the pipe, and before the pipe is cut, a housing or chamber is mounted. on the pipe in position to enclose the pipe cutter and flanges so that when the pipe is cut the housing will prevent escape or loss of fluid from. the interior ofthe pipe.

housing is made in sections so that it may beassembled about the pipe. As shown in Fig. 2 it comprises a section 22 having a recess toenclose half of a pipe and a section 23 ha'ving a recessto enclose the other half, entirely surrounding the pipe at the place where the latter is-to becut. These various parts are assembled by means of suitable flanges and bolts.

Extending at a right angle to the axi's'of the pipe his a section 25 forming an extension of the housing formed by the sections 22 and 23.

- Through this extension passes the shaft 15 for operating the-cutter 1a, the shaft passing through astuffing box 26*in'the section 25-to1the exterior of-the housing. Another section 27 is also at a right angle to the-axis of the pipe 11 and insubstantially the-same plane as thesection 25- and joined to the section 22 and second extension ofthe housing of the chamber.

Within the s ection;27, beforeit is joined tothe section 22,;thereisplaced a valve 28, the stem 29'of whichextendsthrough a stuffing box- 30 of thesection sothat the valve'may bemoved longitudinally of the section'27 into a position Whereby it will be in alignment with the pipe 11. The interior surface of the section 2'7 is'so shaped as to provide a guiding surface for thevalve 28, thelatter being providedwith projections 31 on opposite sides to slide on the guiding surface.

Whenthe apparatus has been assembled about the pipe 11, the shaft 15 is rotated to cause the cutters-1'2 and 13 tomove circumferentially of thepipe- 11 and; to cut into the latter until the section of pipe between the cuttershas-been entirely severed; thereafter the shaft 15 is pulled outwardly or upwardly lifting the pipecutter and a section, 32, of thepipe upwardly into the extension formed by the section 25, as shown in Fig. 6. When drawn upwardly into the section 25, the space between the cut ends of the pipe is entirely free, thereupon the valve 28 is slid by'meansof the stem- 29 inwardly until the axis of its.- boreis in alignment with the axis of. the pipe 11. The thickness of the valve 28 between its flanges 33 and 34 is such that the valve will slide easily into the space between the cut ends of the pipe, asshown in Fig.3 The bore through the valve 28- is such that its inner surface is substantially continuous with the inner, surface of the pipe 11, thereupon the slidable rings or sealed from further communication with the in-,

terior of the housing or chamber; thereupon a section of the latter, for example, the sections 25, 22 and 27 may be removed and bolts 35 inserted through bolt holes in the flanges of the valve andthe-flanges 16 and 1'? as indicated in Fig. 5.

The sliding rings or flanges 16 and 17 are thereby permanently drawn into tight engagement with the flanges of the valve permanently sealing the latter in position in the pipe line, thereafter the remainder of the housing may be entirely removed: leaving the valve permanently inserted in the pipe, as shown. inFig. '7.

In order to enable the housing. or chamber to it different sizesor dimensions of:' pipes, the sections 22 and 23, in assembled position, form an opening about the pipe 11 somewhat larger than. thelargest size of. pipe for which theapparatus is designed. The space betweenthis opening and the outer surface of the pipe 11 is filled and closed by means of a split .ring 36, shown in enlarged'section in Fig. 4,-which is bolted by means of stud screws 3'7 to a flange 38 ofqthe sections 22 and 23, and is provided witha packing 39 closing tightly against the outer surface of the pipe 11. In this way the housing may be adapted to pipes of different sizes and'effectively seal against the pipe.

The rings or sliding flanges 16 and 17 may be forced against'the-fianges 33 and' 34-g ofthe valve by any suitable means. I

In the embodiment of the invention shownin Figs-3 and 4-, for-small; valvesfor low and medium pressures, threaded rods 40 and 41 are mountedat circumferentially spaced intervals in plugs 42 in the rings 36 and extendingthrough these plugs areprovided with. squared outer end portions 43- through which the rods may be turned thereby threading them inwardly. The inner endsof the rods 40 are in abutment with the rings 16: and 17 and force the latter tightly into engagement against the flanges 33 and 34 of the valve 28. When a sufficiently tightclosure has been formed the rods 40 and 41 will hold the rings inplace whilethe sections 25, 22 and 27 are removed to enable the rings to ,be bolted permanently. a

It will be understood that after the housing has been removed the stem 2-9 maybereplaced by'other valve stem actuating means. When valves are to be inserted into pipe lines of large diameter, the clamping ring arrangement of Figs. 8- and- 9 is preferably employed. In this modification the screw threaded openings in'the adapter ring 36 are replaced by stufl'ing boxes 4lthroughwhich pass push rods 45 thatextend from the movable flange or ring 16 or 17 through the stuffing box to a sectional ring lfi which is clamped on to the pipe line outside of the housing,v there'being one suchring at each side of the housing. The sectional rings 46 are tightly secured to the outer surface of the pipe 11 by means of gripping elements 47 which are pressed tightly into the surface of the pipe by clamping bolts48 passing through lugs 49 on'the ring section. The ends of the rods 45 are threaded into sockets. 50 mounted into ears 51' atspaced the latter to be' turned in the sockets 50 so as to thread the rods lengthwise into the housing and press the slidable rings 16 or 17 tightly against the flanges 33 or 34 respectively of the valve being inserted, thereby to tightly seal the valve to the pipe. When this has been done all of the housing maybe removed leaving only the ring 46 and the rods 45 and the ring 36 or parts thereof before the securing bolts are mounted in the valve flanges and rings. When the insertion and securing of the valve has been completed the slidable ring 16 may be welded to the pipe 11 as indicated at 53.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is- 1. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into position between the severed ends of the cut made by said cutter and means to secure the housing of the valve directly to the pipe line independently of the chamber.

2. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter and means to secure the housing of the valve directly to the pipe line independently of the chamber, said second extension having guiding surfaces for guiding said valve housing into alignment with said pipe openings.

3. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, adapter rings joined in said openings to reduce the latter to a desired diameter, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said first cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter.

4. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter and means to secure the housing of the valve directly to the pipe line independently or" the chamber, said chamber having stuffing boxes in said extensions through which said cutter and said valve housing may be moved.

5. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, said chamber being so sectioned that it may be assembled about a pipe to be cut, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said first cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter and means to secure the housing of the valve directly tothe pipe line independently of the chamber.

6. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter, means in said chamber to slide rings axially of the pipe openings in said chamber to seal the housing of the valve in position in the cut in said pipe independently of said chamber.

7. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, rings mounted in said openings to reduce said openings to a desired diameter, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter and means mounted in said rings to force slidable rings within said chamber axially of the axis of said pipe openings to seal against said valve housing when positioned in said cut.

8. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, rings mounted in said openings to receive said openings to a desired diameter and means mounted in said rings to force slidable rings within said chamber axially of the axis of said pipe openings, said means comprising stems threaded through said adapter rings, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter and to be sealed therein by said slidable rings.

9. Apparatus for inserting valves in pipe lines which comprises a sectional chamber having aligned openings to enclose and seal about a pipe line, an extension of said chamber at a right angle to the axis of said pipe line to receive a pipe cutter for cutting out a section of said pipe and an extension of said chamber in substantially the plane of said cutter to contain a valve housing in position to slide into the cut made by said cutter and means to secure the housing of the valve directly to the pipe line independently of the chamber, said extensions of said chamber being formed by removable sections.

10. A means for inserting flanged valves into pipe lines which comprises a sectional housing to enclose and seal a length of said pipe and to contain a pipe cutter and valve to be inserted, said housing having adapter rings through which said pipe extends, stufling boxes at spaced intervals insaid adapter rings, a clamping ring outside said adapted ring and having spaced threaded sockets aligned with said stuffing boxes of said adapter rings and push rods threaded at one end'into said threaded sockets and extending through said stufiing boxes into said housing.

11. Apparatus for securing flanged valves in a pipe which comprises a sectional housing having openings through which said pipe extends and 10 having spaces to contain a pipe cutter and a valve ALFRED c. NIEMAN. 1o 

